Pasi Ikonen

Within Finland, Pasi's name is synonymous with adventurous expeditions, endurance racing and extreme skiing - although there is also another well-known Pasi Ikonen who is an international level orienteer, so that can get quite confusing.

Pasi started his outdoor career as a border patrol officer, training a commando troop and patrolling the Russian Karelian border with his trusted German Shepherd, Gordon (or Kortsu, as he was known at the time when they won the Finnish border patrol championships together).

He went on to be a full-time athlete for 5 years, captaining team Nokia Adventure and team Lapin Kulta to many international victories in X Adventures, the Raid Gauloises Himalayas, Ukatak etc. In the process, he worked closely with many international outdoor brands on the design and development of outdoor clothing and kit.

He is a ski guide (level 3 instructor) and also has over 10 years experience as a wilderness guide.

In Nov. 2008, Pasi left Anna at home to set up the dog farm, while he set out to ski for two months to the South Pole from the edge of the Antarctic ice-cap. When he and his partner, Poppis, arrived at the Pole on Xmas Day, they became the first Finns to complete an unsupported expedition to the South Pole and Poppis became the 12th person in history to have completed both poles unsupported.

It was not great timing, thinking about the dogs, since the expedition took place during the first season that the dogs were running with clients and Anna was left juggling an international-level job, 20 pups (born inside the house c. 1 week after he left) and a fledgling business. However, it was not an opportunity that could be turned down.

Nowadays, his focus is back at the farm where he takes care of all of the Finnish-language aspects of the business as well as the client safaris in the season.

Although Pasi has been sponsored by many companies over the years, his most recent sponsors have been Vaude, Spy Optics, Osprey, Scarpa and K2.

11 years as a Border Patrol Officer, 5 of those training and patrolling with a dog. Responsible for self-defence training (primarily jujitsu), tactical rope instruction (including helicopter – rope situations) and weapons instruction in his special unit and in his region. Finnish border patrol champion in 1998 in the annual 3-day competition designed to test physical ability and border patrol skills.